Episode 114 - Erika Aquino - AQUINO GLOBAL VENTURES LLC

Hi Impactful Listener!

In this enlightening episode, host Barbara Bickham sits down with Erika Aquino, an angel investor and strategic adviser based in Singapore with global reach. Erika shares her journey into investing, her community-focused investment thesis, how she leverages AI in her process, and her thoughts on the evolving intersection of technology and impact investing. The conversation dives deep into the importance of founder-funder chemistry and the need for meaningful, community-oriented venture capital.

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Key Points Discussed

• Erika’s Path to Investing: Inspired by her father's legacy as a tech founder and angel investor, Erika took over her family business board seat and expanded their investment activities, focusing on impactful sectors.

• Investment Thesis: Erika closely invests in women- and minority-owned ventures in sustainability, wellness, future of work, and education—often at the pre-seed through Series A stage.

• AI & Investor Workflow: She describes how AI supercharges her research, deep diligence, and scheduling—cutting her time investment by up to 75%.

• Founder Qualities: Beyond technical intelligence, Erika emphasizes the critical role of a founder’s emotional intelligence (EQ), attitude, and mindset.

• Future of Angel Investing: Despite unchanged fundamentals, she predicts increased focus on global impact, AI integration, and the deepening connection between investment and community betterment.

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Chapters

• 00:00 – Erika’s introduction & background

• 00:28 – Taking over the board and early angel investing

• 01:14 – Investment thesis: sector focus and personal motivation

• 02:15 – Current learning: the rapid evolution of AI and importance of EQ

• 03:38 – Books and research Erika's focusing on

• 04:09 – Interest in food sovereignty and agriculture

• 05:13 – The evolving role of angel investing and global impact

• 06:55 – How AI is changing the investment landscape

• 08:32 – Balancing AI and human touch in tech and business

• 09:56 – How to contact Erika

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Full Topic Guide

Redefining Impact: Erika Aquino on the New Wave of Angel Investing

How global perspective, founder EQ, and artificial intelligence are reshaping the world of early-stage investment.

Inspired Beginnings: From Family Business to Global Investment

Erika Aquino’s journey into the world of investing is both personal and deeply rooted in legacy. Growing up in the Philippines and witnessing her father build a successful tech company, Infinite O, she gained exposure to entrepreneurship and investing from an early age. When her father became ill, Erika stepped up to take his board seat, continuing not only the family business but expanding its vision. Early collaboration with her father on deal flow and evaluating opportunities laid the foundation for a rigorous, yet compassionate, investment style.

A Community-Driven Investment Thesis

Erika’s investment focus is guided by a commitment to social impact. As a Filipino citizen with global ties, she’s acutely aware of the power— and necessity—of deploying resources to communities that need them most. Her thesis centers on funding women- and minority-owned startups within sustainability, wellness, the future of work, and education, considering adjacent spaces like biotech and agriculture as well.

Erika tends to invest at the crucial early stages, typically from pre-seed to Series A. For her, the ultimate draw is finding founders and companies poised to make tangible differences in their immediate and broader communities.

AI as a Research and Due Diligence Powerhouse

The conversation quickly turns toward artificial intelligence, with Erika candidly observing that “AI just evolves every five minutes.” Rather than seeing this rapid change as a threat, she describes how AI is already an integral part of her investment workflow. From deep research and industry mapping to scheduling and founder backgrounds, AI has dramatically reduced inefficiencies, freeing her to focus on high-impact decision-making. The technology’s use cases aren’t limited to streamlining operations; Erika recognizes AI entrepreneurship in key sectors as critical to the next wave of investments.

The Human Dimension: Why Founder EQ Matters

Smart founders are commonplace—but, according to Erika, what truly distinguishes an investable leader is emotional intelligence. She recounts that “what sets you apart is your attitude, your lifestyle, your mindset, and the chemistry between the founder and the funder.” In her view, venture and angel investing will increasingly reward those who combine technical savvy with relationship-building and mission-driven motivations.

The Evolving Role of Angel Investing: A Global, Impactful Lens

Looking forward, Erika argues that the core structure of angel investing hasn’t fundamentally shifted—but the perspectives of investors have. Today’s climate, shaped by AI, international market volatility, tariffs, and shifting supply chains, demands a more globally responsible and community-oriented approach. She encourages peers to measure opportunities not just by profitability, but by their true effect on the ecosystem and those served.

Notable Quotes from the Guest

Fun Facts or Interesting Tidbits

• The Philippines is the world’s most disaster-prone country, making issues like food sovereignty and agricultural innovation especially urgent for Erika.

• Erika admits that AI tools have decreased her research and diligence workload by up to 75%.

• She’s deeply interested in exploring how “food giants” influence consumption—a passion stoked by her country’s natural disaster exposure.

Episode Resource: Learning, Reading, and Listening

Here are the resources Erika Aquino mentioned during the episode:

• Pitch Decks
  (No specific titles provided; refers to startup investment materials.)

• Research Papers and White Papers
  (No specific titles provided; general reference to industry and market research documents.)

• Book: Food Free Will and How the Food Giants Exploit Our Addictions

Erika also mentioned ongoing learning about rapid developments in AI, founder EQ, and a growing interest in food supply and agriculture sectors.

Featured Guest Bio

Erika Aquino is a global citizen, angel investor, and advisor who believes profit and purpose go hand in hand. She backs bold founders creating impact, gives back through mentorship, and champions diversity. Her values-first work spans continents, focused on inclusion, growth, and meaningful change.

• Contact:
  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-aquino 
  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamerikaaquino/
  Email: [email protected]

Fund Information

Aquino Global Ventures invests in early-stage startups driving real impact in wellness, sustainability, and education. Focused on diverse founders, the fund provides capital, strategy, and a global network—supporting purpose-driven businesses to scale without compromising values.

• Website: https://www.erika-aquino.com/ventures

• Socials: https://www.erika-aquino.com/ventures

Support The Podcast

Thanks to Million Podcasts for being featured in the following categories:
35 Best Angel Investors Podcasts, 30 Best Female Investing Podcasts, 90 Best Alternative Investment Podcasts, 60 Best Female Finance Podcasts, 40 Best Impact Investing Podcast and 100 Best Venture Capital Podcasts list.

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https://www.millionpodcasts.com/alternative-investment-podcasts/
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Got thoughts on this episode? Hit reply and let me know! I’d love to hear from you. 💌

Best,
Barbara